Emerging Entrepreneurs

Are you innovative? Do you want to someday be your own boss? Do you like to solve problems? Join the E2 Emerging Entrepreneurs Program — A six-week workshop series for entrepreneurial-curious, current high school and college students (age 16+).

Application Due Date
September 19, 2025
Start Date
October 1, 2025
End Date
November 5, 2025
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Application Due Date
September 19, 2025
Start Date
October 1, 2025
End Date
November 5, 2025

Take Action

Learn about entrepreneurship from local start-up founders and innovators in an informal setting. No grades. No exams. Just like-minded go-getters exploring what it takes to start and run a business. Research shows that when you are starting your own business, you don't want to do it alone. E2 gives you the opportunity to get the scoop from actual business founders and to bounce your thoughts, ideas and questions off a group of peers... before you launch!

E2 is a six week course taught in person and online, and covers the following topics:

Introduction to Entrepreneurship

Define entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and innovation and how each has changed the world. Explore why entrepreneurship is more important than ever and how each generation can uniquely contribute to advancing the field.

The Entrepreneurial Mindset

What skills and mindset are required to be an entrepreneur? Review well-known successful serial entrepreneurs to identify patterns, habits, and practices that led to their success.

Market Opportunity Analysis

Review the basics of market analysis, the difference between innovation and improvement, and how to put data behind your ideas.

Legal Issues, Patent and Intellectual Property Protection

Explore corporations, legal issues shared by all small businesses and how to protect your product or service with a patent.

Entrepreneurial Sales and Marketing

Examine sales concepts and modern marketing strategies, channels, and campaigns.

Financial Management for Small Business

How do founders finance their business start-ups? Explore financial concepts and terminology behind any successful business.

Innovation DuPage adapted our popular E2 curricula for junior high students and piloted the program in Bensenville Middle Schools. Students participated in a semester-long program, developed business ideas, and participated in a program-culminating pitch competition.

Interested in E2 Emerging Entrepreneurs Juniors program at your junior high school, please contact Innovation DuPage.

Learn about entrepreneurship from local start-up founders and innovators in an informal setting. No grades. No exams. Just like-minded go-getters exploring what it takes to start and run a business. Research shows that when you are starting your own business, you don't want to do it alone. E2 gives you the opportunity to get the scoop from actual business founders and to bounce your thoughts, ideas and questions off a group of peers... before you launch!

E2 is a six week course taught in person and online, and covers the following topics:

Introduction to Entrepreneurship

Define entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and innovation and how each has changed the world. Explore why entrepreneurship is more important than ever and how each generation can uniquely contribute to advancing the field.

The Entrepreneurial Mindset

What skills and mindset are required to be an entrepreneur? Review well-known successful serial entrepreneurs to identify patterns, habits, and practices that led to their success.

Market Opportunity Analysis

Review the basics of market analysis, the difference between innovation and improvement, and how to put data behind your ideas.

Legal Issues, Patent and Intellectual Property Protection

Explore corporations, legal issues shared by all small businesses and how to protect your product or service with a patent.

Entrepreneurial Sales and Marketing

Examine sales concepts and modern marketing strategies, channels, and campaigns.

Financial Management for Small Business

How do founders finance their business start-ups? Explore financial concepts and terminology behind any successful business.

Innovation DuPage adapted our popular E2 curricula for junior high students and piloted the program in Bensenville Middle Schools. Students participated in a semester-long program, developed business ideas, and participated in a program-culminating pitch competition.

Interested in E2 Emerging Entrepreneurs Juniors program at your junior high school, please contact Innovation DuPage.

More information coming soon...

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Testimonials

Melvin Henley
PAC Leaders

The Construction Owner to CEO program was really phenomenal. It allowed me to do exactly what the title suggests: go from being an owner to a CEO! I highly endorse this program, so much so we had our Vice President come in the next season and benefit from it as well!

Eduardo Salgado
CS Architectural Woodworking

As a graduate of the Construction Owner-2-CEO program, I can tell you first hand, that Innovation DuPage has helped me scale my business. If you are a small business owner looking to take your business to the next level, enhancing your network, or searching for peer group of likeminded entrepreneurs, Innovation DuPage is the place for you.

Jackie Gomez
HACIA

It's a really unique opportunity to create and curate a program designed to help business owners succeed and build their business in a very competitive environment. We are excited to partner with Innovation DuPage to create a more diverse and inclusive construction industry.

Yvonne Toney
The Cotton Seed Exchange

Working with Innovation DuPage for the Owner to CEO program was amazing and the support and education received has really helped me to push my business a little further with new ideas, concepts and understanding the power of collaboration.

Dr. Afua Aning
My Just Checking In

The Innovation DuPage Owner-2-CEO program has provided a pillar of support for our company as we grow into the future. By having a network of experienced professional networks to grow with and learn from, we can replicate a type of support generally restricted to those above the glass ceiling.

Melissa Villanueva
Brewpoint Coffee

ID has been an amazing educational and community resource for entrepreneurs. I enjoyed the Owner-2-CEO program and, to this day, still keep in contact with my cohort. ID doesn’t hesitate to connect and highlight business owners for opportunities.

Brent Hasse
Flat LLC

ID was hands-on in helping me properly position our product and get in front of the best partners for our company. Their support was instrumental is getting us accepted to the Techstars program, which has already started to shape our Flat and greatly improve our customer success.

Shian Jno-Lewis
The Tidy Queens

Thank you to Innovation DuPage for creating a space that promotes collaboration among local businesses. The Owner to CEO program equips small business owners with the tools needed to work “on” instead of “in” their businesses. It was a total eye-opener and very beneficial in helping us take our business to greater heights.

Nick L.
Wove

As an autistic adult facing challenges in corporate and academic settings, entrepreneurism is vital for my self-sustainability. The capital and mentorship provided by the Neurodiverse Entrepreneur Program was critical to getting my startup off the ground. My company has become profitable just after a year.

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Miftha Syed
InstaPark Elmhurst University Student

Participating in the Innovation DuPage BIG Idea Pitch Contest was an incredible journey filled with inspiration and growth. I cherished every moment of the experience. It provided me with the perfect platform to launch Instapark. This contest truly ignited my entrepreneurial spirit and reaffirmed my belief in the power of entrepreneurship.

Aaliya Khaja
InstaPark Elmhurst University Student

The Big Idea Pitch Competition was definitely a remarkable experience for us! Being able to pitch our business idea to many entrepreneurs was exciting and we are excited to work on InstaPark to move forward and develop it into the app we've dreamed about.

Joe Barron
Gray Matters Games

As the first member company of Innovation DuPage, we’ve grown up together. I love being able to bounce different ideas off of other entrepreneurs, it saves all of us time, it saves us money, and takes our business to the next level.

Maureen Longoria & Lisa Burns
LivNow Relocation

Innovation DuPage has brought us resources beyond belief. They’ve made connections with us that we could have never made on our own. What they have brought to LivNow Relocation is absolutely priceless.

Keith Wakeman
SuperBetter

Kassidy (Our Intern) provided value to the SuperBetter company from day one. She provided valuable feedback on product design, created newsletters to update our SuperBetter community, and rolled up her sleeves to help get it done.

Lance Rock
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The value Innovation DuPage brings to my company is immeasurable - it has become one of the most valuable assets I've ever had. Their team continuously brings fresh ideas and innovative approaches, demonstrating passion and deep understanding of what my company stands for.

Workshops

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Makers & Shakers: Money Rewritten

Jul 17
6:00 pm
Elmhurst, IL
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2025 Manufacturing Solutions Summit

Jul 24
8:30 am
Glen Ellyn, IL
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The Certification Process

Aug 13
5:30 pm
Glen Ellyn, IL
Public

The Midwest Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summit 2025

Nov 13
9:00 am
Glen Ellyn, IL

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